William don



(Nmlylgdel.)

Draft Hook forl TramvLGars.

No. 240,675, Patented April 26,1881.

N. PETERS, FHDYD'LITHOGHAFHER. WASHINGTSN. D. DA

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DON, OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM WHITE, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEWYORK.

DRAFT-HOOK FOR TRAMCARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,675, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed March 5,1881. (No model.) v

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Hooks for RailroadCars, of which the following is a specification.

` This invention consists in the combination, with the pin to which the whifdetree is hitched, of a latch which locks said pin inthe working position, and of a chain or rope connected to the pin and to the latch, so that when the pin is in position it is not liable to release the whifdetree accidentally, and that by pulling the chain or rope the driver is enabled to release the latch and withdraw the pin. The collar of the pin is partially cut away, so that if the pin is partially raised the latch becomes firmly locked, and the accidental disengagement of the pin from the jaws is prevented. The socket in the lower jaw is closed at the bottom, so asV to prevent accidents and injury to the horses in cases of falling and the car running upon them.

This invention is illustrated` in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a. sectional sideview. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

ln the drawings the letter A designates the pull-iron, which is secured to the platform ot' a railroad-car in the usual manner. This pulliron is provided with two jaws, a a', for the reception of the pin B, to which the Whittle tree is to be hitched. The lower jaw, af, is provided with an enlargement, so that the socket for the reception of the pin can be made of sufficient depth and yet remain closed at the bottom, and that in case the horse or horses should fall and the car run upon them injury to the horses is prevented. 4lf the pin projects through the lower jaw of the pulliron, its projecting endis liable to injure the horses if they fall and the car runs upon them, and, furthermore, the horses are liable to kick out the pin, thereby causing additional trouble and delay. The pin B is provided with a collar, b, which rests upon the upper jaw, a, of the pull-ironand from this collar rises a at head, c, to which a latch, C, is connected by a pivot, d'. The pin Bis also provided With a feather-key, c, which engages with a groove in the pull-iron, so as to prevent the pin from turning round.

On the upper jaw of the pull-iron issecured a hook, f, and the rear portion of the collar b is partially cut away, so as to allow the latch to drop down and to engage with the hook f. If the pin rides up the latch is drawn firmly beneath the hook, and an accidental disengagement of the pin is prevented.

The chain D enables the driver to disengage the latch and to raise the pin out of the pull-iron by one movement. For this purpose said chain is provided with two branches, g g', the branch g being connected to the pin, and the branch g to the latch, and these branches are s0 adjusted that when the driver pulls the chain the latch C is first raised clear of the hook f, so that the pin can be Withdrawn without obstruction. By this arrangement an accidental displacement of the pin is efl'ectually prevented, the pin can be readily withdrawn whenever it may be desirable, and injury to the horse or horses from the pin is avoided.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the pulliron A, the pin B, and the latch C. I

2. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore described, of the pull-iron A, the pin B, the collar B, which is 4partially cut away, and the latch.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the pull-iron, the pin, the latch, and the chain, having two branches, g g', so arranged that bypulling said chain the latch is disengaged and the pin can be raised without obstruction.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the pull-iron, the pin, and the closed socket in the lower jaw, a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two'subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM DON. [L s] Witnesses:

E. T. LANDON, F. F. WHITE. 

